Monday, December 15, 2014

NBC has announced premiere dates for its burgeoning midseason schedule - dramas Allegiance, Night Shift, A.D. and Odyssey, event series The Slap, and comedies One Big Happy and Undateable. As previously announced, The Blacklist will return to the NBC schedule on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 1, immediately following the game. The series then shifts to its new timeslot beginning Thursday, Feb. 5 at 9pm. The Blacklist will serve as a lead-in to the new spy thriller Allegiance from writer-director George Nolfi (The Adjustment Bureau). Allegiance will air Thursdays at 10pm also beginning Feb. 5. The eight-episode event series The Slap, written by Pulitzer Prize finalist Jon Robin Baitz and executive produced by the team of Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald (Gladiator, Men in Black) and director Lisa Cholodenko (The Kids Are All Right), will air Thursdays at 8pm beginning Feb. 12. The series stars Peter Sarsgaard, Uma Thurman, Thandie Newton and Zachary Quinto.

Summer drama The Night Shift, returns to NBC on Monday, Feb. 23 at 10pm following the two-hour season premiere of The Voice. It looks like State of Affairs will wrap its season on Feb. 16. The Night Shift - about the courageous and irreverent men and women at San Antonio Memorial Hospital - stars Eoin Macken, Ken Leung, Jill Flint, Robert Bailey Jr., Jeananne Goossen, JR Lemon, Brendan Fehr and Freddy Rodriguez. Also moving from summer to midseason is the comedy Undateable, from executive producers Bill Lawrence, Adam Sztykiel and Jeff Ingold. The sitcom is about a group of friends who are close to finding a relationship but just need a little help - will begin its second season on Tuesday, March 17 at 9pm following The Voice. The series stars Chris D'Elia, Brent Morin, Ron Funches, Rick Glassman, David Fynn, Bianca Kajlich and Bridgit Mendler. NBC's new comedy One Big Happy - from writer Liz Feldman and executive producer Ellen DeGeneres - launches Tuesday, March 17 at 9:30pm, immediately following Undateable. The sitcom stars Elisha Cuthbert. Marry Me and About a Boy will return later in the season. And finally, on Easter Sunday, April 5, at 9 and 10 p.m., respectively, NBC will debut two of its highly anticipated dramas - 12-hour mini-series A.D. and action drama Odyssey.

FX Networks has ordered the comedy series pilot Atlanta created by and starring award-winning actor and writer Donald Glover (Community, 30 Rock). Glover serves as Executive Producer, along with Paul Simms (Girls, Flight of the Conchords, NewsRadio), and Dianne McGunigle of Schiff Company. The pilot will be produced by FX Productions. Atlanta revolves around two cousins on their way up through the Atlanta rap scene whose opposing views on art versus commerce, success and race will make their quest anything but easy. Glover will play "Earnest 'Earn' Marks," a college drop-out who reconnects with his long buried ambition and sets out to seize the life he imagined for himself when his estranged cousin becomes a sudden star.

Atlanta is the fourth comedy series pilot produced or ordered by FX Networks this year, adds to the growing roster of comedies series and projects that is unmatched by any network. FX is currently in production on the comedy series pilot Pariah, starring Bill Burr for Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton. In January FXX will launch Man Seeking Woman, starring Jay Baruchel from Simon Rich, Jonathan Krisel and Broadway Video, and in April FX will premiere The Comedians, starring Billy Crystal and Josh Gad, and next summer FX also launches Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll, starring Denis Leary, Elizabeth Gillies and John Corbett. Earlier this year, FX ordered Baskets (2016), starring Zach Galifianakis from Galifianakis and Louis C.K. and directed by Jonathan Krisel, and the untitled Tracy Morgan project (TBD). Those new projects join the existing FX Networks comedy slate which includes Archer (FX), Louie (FX), Married (FX), It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FXX), The League (FXX), and You're the Worst (FXX).

Last Man Standing - "Help Wanted" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Since losing her teaching job, Vanessa has been spending her time hovering over the family, and it’s driving everyone nuts. Over at Kristin and Ryan’s house, Ryan and Kyle are wrapped-up in a zombie face-off to determine who knows the most about zombies and how to survive an apocalypse. Unable to land a new gig, Vanessa becomes discouraged, but Mike does everything he can to get her back doing what she loves.

Dr. Ken - "Ken's Apology" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Ken wants to apologize to a patient for missing an important medical detail, Pat advises against it, and the situation gets out of hand. Meanwhile, D.K. shakes things up at Dave’s parent/teacher conference.